In January 2026, four participants in a training group of the Austrian Alpine Club died in an avalanche in the Großarltal valley. The Salzburg public prosecutor's office subsequently investigated the group leader but has now dropped the case. The Alpine Club expresses its solidarity with its mountain and ski guide.
Four people dead in avalanche near Pongau
In the avalanche on January 17, 2026, the seven-member training group of the Alpine Club was completely buried in the Großarltal valley (Pongau). Four people died – two Tyroleans aged 65 and 63, a 60-year-old woman from Styria, and a 53-year-old man from Upper Austria. Three people, including the state-certified mountain and ski guide, survived.
The avalanche, approximately 120 to 150 meters wide, broke loose below the Throneck peak at an altitude of around 2.000 meters and swept away the group ascending towards the Finsterkopf summit. A 58-year-old man from Salzburg was able to free himself and initiate the rescue operation. As a result, another man and the mountain guide were rescued alive from the snow.
The group was participating in the regular winter training program of the Austrian Alpine Club On the way. All participants were experienced mountaineers and equipped with avalanche transceivers (LVS).
Investigations into suspected negligent homicide dropped
The Salzburg public prosecutor's office subsequently opened an investigation against the then 41-year-old Alpine Club guide on suspicion of negligent homicide. At the time of the accident, it was considered Avalanche warning level two out of five. When this warning level applies, larger and spontaneous avalanches are generally considered unlikely. Nevertheless, about one in four avalanche accidents occurs at warning level two.
At the same time, the 2025/26 winter season was characterized by a Old snow problem The situation was characterized by poor snow cover at the start of winter. Due to the lack of snow, the snowpack built up extremely poorly throughout the Eastern Alps. The weeks of dry weather with clear nights, little wind, and severe frost also allowed a dangerous slip layer to form beneath the snow surface in many areas.
After the Salzburg public prosecutor's office found no breach of duty of care on the part of the responsible course instructor, it discontinued the investigation in October 2026. According to the investigators, It was not foreseeablethat an avalanche will break loose in this section of the Grossarltal valley on this day.
Alpine Club expresses solidarity with mountain guide: "This does not change our deep concern"
The Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV) is relieved that the proceedings have been discontinued. Austrian Alpine Club President Wolfgang Schnabl expressed solidarity with the mountain and ski guide: "The discontinuation of the investigation confirms that our course instructor acted to the best of her knowledge."
At the same time, this does not change the deep concern within the Alpine Club, according to Schnabl:
This tragedy has claimed the lives of four people from our community. Our thoughts remain with their families, friends, and those who survived the accident and must live with the consequences of this traumatic event.
Wolfgang Schnabl, President of the Austrian Alpine Club
Safety as a central responsibility – especially in situations of increased risk
The avalanche accident on the Throneck is a tragic example of how even meticulous tour planning and high levels of mountaineering expertise cannot always prevent an accident. Although the course instructor adhered to all established safety standards, the Alpine Club sees its mission as continuously improving its safety practices.
Our responsibility as an Alpine Club remains: to learn from this tragedy and to do everything within our power to ensure that such a tragedy is not repeated.
Wolfgang Schnabl, President of the Austrian Alpine Club
The precarious snow conditions in the Alps are also reflected in the latest figures on fatal avalanche accidents. In Austria, 33 people lost their lives in avalanches last winter – significantly more than the long-term average of around 16 avalanche fatalities per winter. 126 people died in avalanches during the 2025/26 season. in the Alps, most of them in Italy, Austria and France.1
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Credits for cover photo: Pongau Mountain Rescue
- Source: Report of the European Avalanche Warning Service (EAWS) Updated 28.10.2026 ↩︎